THE GRANDDAUGHTERS of 79-year-old Mary Maund, who was found in a pool of water in Earl Shilton, have paid tribute to the “eccentric” woman they described as “just Nana”.

Mrs Maund’s body was found in the balancing lake near to the start of the Earl Shilton bypass on Thursday March 3 - the day after she had been reported missing.

She was a keen gardener and enjoyed walking and picking flowers and her family believe that is what she was doing when she died.

Her granddaughter Kylea Davis, 26, said: “She always used to say that she didn’t want to go in a home, she’d rather die in her wellies, which is what happened.

“It’s a little comfort to know she was doing something she loved.”

The death of the fit and healthy pensioner came as a complete shock to the family.

Her granddaughter Yasmin, 20, said: “She didn’t drown but we don’t know any more than that at the minute.

“But we want everyone to know that she wasn’t senile in any way.

“She was perfectly compos mentis, she was just eccentric and loved to make her own brightly coloured clothes.

“She was just Nana.”

The former light lady at the New Palace Earl Shilton cinema, who also devoted her time to fostering African children whose parents were at university, met the latest addition to the family before she passed away.

Her granddaughter Kelly, 30, who gave birth to son Shay nine weeks ago, said: “She did get a chance to meet Shay a couple of times so I’m glad about that.

“We’ve got some lovely photos of the two of them so he can see them when he’s older.”

Mary leaves behind two sons, Gez and Richard; five grandchildren, Kelly, Yasmin, Kylea, Laura and Connor and three great-grandchildren, Shay, Tyler and Ruby.

Anyone who hasn’t spoken to the police already and believes they saw Mrs Maund between Saturday February 26 and Thursday March 3 can contact Sgt Robinson on 0116 222 2222, follow the instructions to leave a message and when prompted key in the officer’s identification number 4237.